Switch positioning means



July 12, 1955 R. N. SLATE 2,713,103

SWITCH POSITIONING MEANS Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VENTORRAYMOND N. SLATE BY W w ATTORNEYS July 12, 1955 R. N. SLATE 2,713,103

SWITCH POSITIONING MEANS Filed Jan. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORRAYMOND N. SLATE BY M ATTORNEYS United States Patent SWITCH POSHEONING l/HAN S Raymond N. Slate, Toronto, Ontario, Canadmassignor'to MotiatsLimited, Weston, Ontario, Canada, a corporation Application .lannary 29,1953, Serial No. 333,957

17 Claims. (Cl. 290-467) 'This invention relates to switch positioningmeans, and more particularly to an illuminated switch control knob.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch positioning meanshaving a striking and ornamental illuminated switch position indicator.

Another object is -to provide an illuminated switch positioning meansthat is easily fabricated, assembled and dismantled.

The precise scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims,but a detailed description of a preferred embodiment will now be givenwith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective partly sectional View of an electric switchhaving an illuminated switch control'knob assembly mounted on thecontrol panel of an electric stove, the switchbeing-in one of its Onpositions;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 but with themanipulating ring, indicator dial, and a few of the light-filters of theknob assembly vremoved, the switch being in the Off position;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the apparatus ofFig. 1 with the indicator-dialpartly broken away, the switch again being in the OE position;

Fig. 4 is'a rear perspective view of one of the light filters; and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the switch with the knob assembly of Fig. 1 inlongitudinal section, the switch being in another of the On positions.

Projecting from the front of the housing 1 of a con.- ventional rotaryswitch having an Off position and seven On positions is a split shaft 2by means of which the switch is rotated from position to position. Theswitch is supported by a bracket 3 at the rear of a panel 4, and aresilient clip 5 suspends a lamp 6 over the shaft 2. The bracket 3 andclip 5 are prevented from rotating by small pins or ears 7 and 8respectively.

The shaft 2 projects through a circular opening in the panel 4, thepanel having a forwardly extending flange 4a which cooperates with acontrol knob 9 on the shaft 2 to form a light trap which prevents lightfrom the lamp 6 from escaping around the periphery of the knob.

The control knob 9 consists of a generally cylindrical manipulating ring1 3 in the front end of which is set an indicator dial 11. The ring 10is peripherally fluted so that it can be grasped easily, and'has aforwardly -pro-. jecting ornamental portion 16a which is uppermostwhenthe switch is in the OH position; the ring l0'm'ay be formed of diecast zinc witha'chromeiplate finish.

The dial 11 is generally convex and is made of some light-transmittingmaterial such as a melamine resin. In its inner face the dial 11 hasinscribed eight numerals, from 0 to 7, arranged in a circle around theaxis of rotation of the knob 9 and shaft 2, the numeral 0 correspondingto the Off position of the switch and the remaining numeralscorresponding to the seven 0n positions.

- hub of the spider.

recessed portion 11a. Apart from the numerals 0 to 7 and the recessedportion 11a the inner surface of the dial is unpolished, as indicated bystippling in the drawings, and is therefore translucent. The peripheryof the dial 11 adjacent the numeral 0 is flattened as at "11b to receivethe portion 10a of the manipulating ring.

The ring'lfl has a lug lllb extending inwardly from adjacent the portion10a, and to the lug is secured, by means of a stud 12, a spider member13. From its hub the spider member has a rearwardly extending sleeve 13awhich is frictionally slidable axially on the shaft 2 and connects theknob 9 to the shaft. The shaft 2 has a flattened portion 2a and thesleeve is complementarily formed internally so that the shaftmust turnwith the knob. The spider 13 also has a peripheral rim 13b which fitssnugly within the ring 10, and the rim 13b and sleeve 13a are connectedby a plurality of arms 13c forming thin vanes in planes radial to theaxis of rotation. The rear edges of the vanes 130 are perpendicular tothe axis of rotation of the shaft 2, whereas the front edgessloperearwardly between the rim 13b and the hub.

The ring 10. has a rearwardly extending rim which surrounds the flange4a and which forms with the rim 1312 a recess into which the flange 4aextends, forming the aforementioned light trap. The ring 10 and rim'13bmay hereinafter be referred to as the annular portion of the knob .9andthe arms 13s as the spider portion, the spaces between the arms:forming alight-transmitting interior of the 'knob surrounded by theopaque annular portion.

Supported on the front of the spider 13 are seven differently colouredlight filters 14 made of a light transmitting substance such as amelamine resin. Each-filter is shaped substantially liken-sector ofa:circle, and the filters are arranged side by side in circular order onthe spider, as best seen in Fig. 3, afilter being located directlybehind each of the numerals l to 7 on the dial '11. Each filterincreases in thickness from its outer edge 14a to-its inner edge 14b sothatas shown in Fig. 5 thefront faces of the filters-lie substantiallyin a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft 2 and knob9. The outer edge 1411 02" each filter is held between the dial 11and-the 13b-of thespider to hold the :filter in position on thespider.Each filter also has on its rear face .a :substantially triangularprotruding portion 14c which extends between adjacent vanes 13c of thespider; the apex of the protruding portion is cut offandrecessedas at14d to engage a flange 13d on the The whole of the material of eachfiltermay be coloured in-a distinctive colour, or alternatively .acoloured water may be adhesively secured to the plane surface l4e of theportion 14c. As best seen in Pig. 2, the side l ifof the filters arebevelled and unpolished.

When the portion 10a of the knob 9 and thenumeral 0 of the .dial 11 areuppermost, as shown in Fig. 3, the switchis in the Off position, thelamp 6 is not energized, and the lug 10b of the knob is interposedbetween the lamp and the dial. When the knob 9 is turned so that one ofthe numerals 1 to 7 on the dial is in the uppermost position the switchis inan On position and 'the lamp 6 is energized; the On positionshownin Pig. 5 is typical, the numeral 4 on the dial being uppermost. Inany On position one of the filters 114 is uppermost and is locateddirectly between the lamp 6 and the dial 11. The lamp-being suspendedabove the shaft 2, most of its-light passes through the said uppermostfilter, and the vanes which extend rearwardly from the .sides of thefilter assist in directing most of the light to the uppermost filter,particularly since the rear edges of the vanes are in a plane close tothe lamp and pass close to the lamp as the knob is rotated. Because ofits varying thickness each filter acts asa lens, and when the filter isin the uppermost position it focuses the light from the lamp onto asubstantially V-shaped area which includes the numeral im mediately infront of it on the dial 11. The provision of the bevelled, translucentsides 14f is found to assist in producing a V-shaped area having sharpedges. As the knob 9 is rotated the numerals on the dial movesequentially through the V-shaped area and each numeral is in turnilluminated in the colour of the filter 14 behind it. The numerals 1 to7 on the dial may correspond to increasing amounts of power supplied bythe switch to a heating element, and the colours of the filterscorresponding to these numerals may brighten to a glowing red indicatingincreasing-temperature.

In addition to the predominant illumination of the uppermost portion ofthe dial opposite the lamp 6, the

remainder of the dial has a more dim, general illumi nation in any ofthe On positions. This is due to the fact that the filters 14 other thanthe uppermost one receive some illumination from the lamp 6 and transmitlight to other areas of the dial. Since the dial at such other areasreceives unfocussed illumination from several differently colouredfilters spaced rearwardly from the dial, the net result is a general dimillumination of the dial, the colour of which may be difierent indifferent areas, and a predominant illumination of the colour of theuppermost filter at the area of the dial opposite the uppermost filter.As diiferently coloured filters come opposite the lamp the colourationsof the dim illumination and of the predominant illuminations vary. Thusa pleasing and useful illumination of the dial of the control knob isachieved; v

' It is to be understood that the form of the invention, herewith shownand described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts maybe resorted to, Without departing from the scope of the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Switch positioning means comprising a rotatable shaft, a hollow'knobhaving a peripheral wall by which the knob may be grasped manually andhaving a translucent dial at its outer end, a spider within the knobrearward of the dial and connecting the peripheral wall with the shaftwhereby the shaft may be rotated by the knob to a plurality ofpositions, the knob being coaxial with the shaft, the dial bearingswitch position indicia located round the axis of rotation of the knoband shaft;

axis and through which the indicia are movable sequen-V tially as theknob is rotated and with more dim illumination at adjacent areas, thecolour of the predominant illumination being variable by rotating theknob and the more dim illumination being difierently coloured than thepredominant'illumination; said means comprising a stationary lightsource behind the spider and located radially from the shaft oppositesaid primary area, a plurality of differently coloured light filtersarranged in circular order on the spider and movable'with the knob topass sequentially in front of the light'source to transmit light fromthe light source to said primary area, adjacent filters transmittinglight from the ligh source to said adjacent areas.

2. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim l-, which the filtersare mounted on the front of the spider and the arms of the spider extendrearwardly therefrom to direct light primarily to the filter in front ofthe light source.

3. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 1', in

which the filters are lenses held by and between the front of the spiderand the dial. a

' 4. Switch positioning means, comprising a movable switch positioncontrol having a position indicator, and

means for illuminating a portion of the position indicator withpredominant illumination the colour of which is variable by moving theswitch position control and for illuminating adjacent portions of theposition indicator-with more dim illumination difierently coloured thanthe predominant illumination; said means comprising a stationary lightsource spaced rearwardly from the position indicator opposite thefirst-mentioned portion of the position indicator, a plurality ofdifferently coloured light filters arranged side by side behind theposition indicator and movable with the position control to passsequentially in front of the light source to transmit light from thelight source to the first-mentioned portion of the position indicator,adjacent filters transmitting light from the light source to saidadjacent portions of the position indicator, and a plurality of vanesfixed relative tothe filters and extending rearwardly from the sides ofthe filters to direct light primarily to the filter in front of thelight source.

5. Switch positioning means comprising a rotatable switch positioncontrol knob having a translucent dial rotatable with the knob andbearing switch position indicia located round the axis of rotation ofthe dial, and means forilluminating the dial with predominantillumination at a primary area through which the indicia are movablesequentially as the dial is rotated and with transmit light from thelight source to said adjacent areas, the light source and filters beingso arranged that the filter transmitting light to said primary area ispredominantly illuminated and the adjacent filters are more dimlyilluminated, there being a plurality of vanes fixed relative to thefilters and extending rearwardly fromthe sides of the filters to directlight primarily to the filter transmitting light to said primary area.

6. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 5, in which'thefiltersare portions of a rotatable member spaced rearwardly from thedial.

'7. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim' 5,

in which the filters are shaped like sectors of a circle.

8.- Switch positioning means for use with a stationary light source,comprising a switch position control adapted to move in front of thelight source when positioning the switch; the control having a switchposition indicator, and means'for illuminating a portion of the positionindicator with predominant illumination the colour of which is variableby moving the switch position control and for lightsource to thefirst-mentioned portion of the posi-' tion indicator, adjacent filterstransmitting light from the light source to said adjacent portions ofthe position indicator, anda plurality of vanes fixed relative to thefilters and extending rearwardly betweenthe filters to direct lightprimarily to the filter in front of the light source.

" 9. Switch positioning means as claimed in claim 8,

in which the filters are lenses spacedrearwardly from the positionindicator, the spacing being such that each lens when transmitting lightto said first-mentioned portion focuses the light on said portion.

10. A rotatable switch positioning control knob, comprising an annularportion, a plurality of arms extending inwardly from and fixedrelatively to the annular portion, the arms comprising thin vanes inplanes radial to the annular portion, and the vanes having spacesbetween them, and a light-transmitting switch position indicator locatedwithin the annular portion in front of the plurality of vanes forreceiving light passing through the several spaces between the vanes.

11. A control knob as claimed in claim 10, in which the positionindicator has switch position indicia in front of the spaces between thevanes.

12. A control knob as clamed in claim 11, in which the indicia areprovided on the surface of the position indicator adjacent the vanes,said surface being translucent.

13. A control knob as claimed in claim 10, in which a plurality ofdifferently coloured light filters are located between said spaces andsaid position indicator for filtering the light passing to the positionindicator.

14. In combination, a wall having a circular opening and a forwardlydirected annular flange surrounding the opening, a switch positioncontrol rotatable about an axis through the centre of the opening, thecontrol having a spider portion with arms extending away from the axisand with spaces between the arms and an annular portion carried by thearms of the spider portion in front of the flange, the annular portionhaving an inner rearwardly extending rim of smaller diameter than theflange and an outer rearwardly extending rim of larger diameter than theinner rim, the rims defining a recess between them into which the flangeextends, and a light source rearward of the spider portion forilluminating the spaces between the arms of the spider portion, theflange and rims substantially preventing escape of light around theouter nm 15. In combination, a wall having a circular opening and aforwardly directed annular flange surrounding the opening, a rotaryswitch at the rear of the wall, a rotatable switch position control knobat the front of the wall, a shaft through the opening connecting theswitch and the control knob, the control knob having alight-transmitting interior and an opaque portion having an annularrecess into which the flange extends, and a light source rearward of thelight-transmitting interior for illuminating it, the flange in therecess substantially preventing escape of light around the flange.

16. In combination, a rotary switch, a rotatable position control forthe switch comprising a spider portion having a hub engageable with theswitch for rotation thereof, the spider portion having arms radiatingfrom the hub and having spaces, between them, the control having anannular portion carried by the arms of the spider portion and alight-transmitting position indicator in front of the spider portion andsurrounded by the annular portion, the position indicator having aplurality of switch position indicia in front of the spaces between thearms of the spider portion, and a stationary light source behind thespider portion and at one side of the axis of rotation for illuminatingthe indicia through said spaces.

17. The combination claimed in claim 16, in which the arms of the spidermember consist of thin vanes in planes radial to the axis of the hub andhaving rear edges which pass close to the light source as the control isrotated whereby the space closest to the light source receives most ofthe illumination.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

